How long to sing this potty song?!

[Diamond Dog]

My 10 week old...what a handfull! His new nickname is "terrorist".

Anyway, I have been crate training him and watching him like a hawk when he is out of his crate. He goes potty outside, I praise him, blah blah blah.

He still has an ocassional accident in the house. I know he knows its a good ting to relieve himself outside, I just dont think he knows that he is supposed to go outside all the time.

He doesnt ever give us an idication that he needs to go.

This is my second pup, my female is 8 years old. I dont remember it taking this long to potty train, but I can be totally wrong as it was eight years ago. The "The art of raising a puppy" book says they get it after 50-75 times of going outside. We are past that or near that at least?

With crate training, when do you think he will be reliably potty trained? Are males harder to potty train than females?

Just want to see if he is behind the learning curve or if should be doing something else?

PS as I was writting this, he pottied in the carpet..arghhh! Its just impossible to watch him every single moment and we dont want to leave him in the crate more than we have too.

[Rottnlove]

As far as males being harder than females to potty train, I'm not sure. I heard just the opposite the other day. I heard that males are easier. They will start sniffing the floor and may start to circle. That is a good indication that he needs to go. I think it really depends on the dog, not the sex.

It takes a while to potty train a dog. At ten weeks, they still can't hold it very well. Are you letting him out a half hour after he eats and then every 2 hours after that? How is he doing at night? Consistency is the key, get him on a schedule. You can have a routine and so can he. Just remember, every couple of hours or so let him outside and praise him alot and give him a treat as soon as he goes where you want him to. When you catch him having an accident in the house, you can use a can with a penny in it and shake it and tell him "NO!" right when he does this....then take him right outside where you want him to go. Praise him when he goes there....you get it, I'm sure. Good luck. I am getting a puppy in the next year or two. I have been researching like crazy! I can't wait for the right time. I know it's alot of work, but worth it! :D

Lisa

[Vista]

I have removed one post that contained off-topic comments.

[rottlove]

My 10-week-old female is not reliable yet either. I am very careful, but just when you think it's safe... I've had 2 accidents in 5 days, not too bad. I take her out about every 2 hours except at night, when she's good for 7 hours.

I seem to remember my last little girl took until 5 months old to be 100% reliable. She still didn't let me know when she had to go, though (unless it was diarrhea); she just "went" about 4 times a day when I walked her--morning, lunch, after work, and before bed.

[Leader]

Sorry to be soooo severe but, whhat do you expect from a 10 week old pup? They're still little babies!You can't expect a 4 month old child to be potty trained. Come on, get with it. Give the guy a chance and be patient. Once they've learned, they've learned for ever and don't forget. I had a wonderful puppy for 6 months before she died and she got completely trained, whining at the door, no accidents and all by 4 months old. My male (who is just THE GREATEST DOG ON EARTH IS ALL:D :D :D :D )was trained in something like 2 weeks and maybe had one or two accidents. Big deal! And I work 4 days outside the home and one day and weekends (except for dog time and training) at home.

Give both of you a chance. It does take time, but believe it's worth the effort; just keep him on schedule and feeding times regular. he'll learn.
Good luck and forgive my being on the puppy's side!:)

[Dogfolks]

Hi we used to live in OC...boy is central America different.

Use 17 weeks as your drop dead:D date. The going on the carpet is a problem make certain you are using an odor remover. Much on this in the archives. Control water in the evenings and take your baby out often. Wait for him to urinate and then praise him with "go peepees" or some such thing. This must be done while he is urinating. You can teach him to urinate on command, or try to, which will be very helpful in the future.

You didn't say how much time is "too much" in the crate. They sleep a lot at this age and potty traing is very important to both of you so don't worry too much about over use of the crate just make certain there is plenty of quality time and exercise when you do go outside. From the crate he goes outside and does not come back in until he "go peepees"

If he does not pee in the crate he does not need to pee in the house:)

Lynn